It’s a safe bet that when the heirs of Chester and Clara Congdon donated Glensheen to UMD they had no idea what kind of shenanigans would happen around Halloween. But as far as shenanigans go, Glensheen’s variety is about as sophisticated as you can get.

For the third year, Glensheen is inviting the public to enjoy its Jack O’ Lantern Spooktacular. It’s an incredible display of 1,000 illuminated pumpkins, all carved by UMD students and community members, artistically dotting the 105-year-old estate.

Lucie Amundsen, Glensheen's marketing director, describes this year's Spooktacular route as brand new and loaded with macabre marvels, "Visitors will walk through the spooky Cottonwood cathedral, a torch-walk against the wrought iron fence to the West Gate where a mass of grinning pumpkins will greet you at the entrance of the mansion, lit for enchanted effect. Inside, witness a Pumpkin Seance contacting the spirits of old ghouls, Herman and Lily Munster and Morticia and Gomez Addams, artistically cut onto pumpkins. Then it's down to the mansion's winter garden to pick the winner of the pumpkin carving contest. Back outside, tour the Bridge of Sorrows where hundreds of pumpkins are fleeing in terror over the orangey/red waters. What's frightening them? Come and see!"

The event starts on Thursday, October 24 and runs through Sunday, October 27. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the last group will be admitted at 8:30 p.m. The grounds close at 9 p.m. each night.

The first Spooktacular, held in 2011, had hundreds of pumpkins in Bent Brook's ravine. Photo, rzanaphotography.com